Back to back relegations for Kiladangan Seconds

GAA: FBD Insurance County Intermediate Hurling Relegation Final

Upperchurch/Drombane 2-20

Kiladangan 4-13

Report: LiamHogan in Templederry

Kiladangan’s stay in Intermediate level lasted just one year as their late comeback was not enough to save them from the drop with Pat Shortt’s 62nd minute free helping Upperchurch/Drombane stay in the third tier in an entertaining relegation final on Saturday.

Upperchurch/Drombane were the better all round team. They were six points in front with a minute of normal time remaining before Kiladangan scored two late goals.

The Mid side were deserving of the win, but the game will be cause for discussion as one wonders how it would have panned out if Kiladangan hadn’t lost Martin Minehan to a red card in the 20th minute when referee Paddy Russell considered his tackle on Jim O’Dwyer as dangerous. The dismissal looked very harsh with the Kiladangan man’s shoulder coming in contact with O’Dwyer as the Upperchurch player slipped in the greasy conditions and came in to contact with the Kiladangan defender who was standing his ground. There was nothing the Kiladangan man could do about it as the contact was accidental and looked more serious than it actually was.

The sending off aside, this was a game that Upperchurch/Drombane dominated from start to finish and were fully deserving of their 0-5 to 0-2 lead after ten minutes. Last year’s junior champions were playing with great fluidness as Pat Shortt opened the scoring with a free after forty-four seconds with Eanna Ryan, Loughlin Ryan, Diarmuid Ryan and Jim O’Dwyer each adding scores from play.

Eoghan Kelly had already scored Kiladangan’s equaliser after sixty seconds with Martin Minehan giving the North-men the lead. Minehan was involved in the game’s first goal in the eleventh minute when Neil Cahalan took up the running before firing home a great shot to the net.

However, Upperchurch/Drombane took up the running again and went three in front thanks to points by Jim O’Dwyer and Conor Fahey, either side of a Pat Shortt free. Neil Cahalan pulled one back for Kiladangan before Kiladangan came forward again, but their accuracy let them down and their plight worsened when Martin Minehan was sent to the line.

From there, Upperchurch took advantage and increased their lead to seven when adding 1-2 with the goal coming from Oisin Treacy after the wing back received an assist from Pat Shortt in the 25th minute.

Kiladangan managed to find the resources to comeback and approaching half time they had points on the board from Ruairi Gleeson and Jack Loughnane. A Pat Shortt free put six between the teams, but Conor Culhane gave Kiladangan a lifeline when he pushed a ground ball to the net. Suddenly the picture looked brighter for Kiladangan and seconds into added time they managed to cut the deficit even more when Ruairi Gleeson (free) and Neil Cahalan found white flags to leave them 1-11 to 2-7 in arrears.

The second half was thirty seconds old when Conor Culhane’s half chance of a goal was saved by T.J Butler. When Upperchurch turned defence into attack they increased their lead to five after Eoin Shortt scored a point before Pat Shortt goaled after he availed of a loose clearance to score from close range.

That score was the start of a score for score phase with two Ruairi Gleeson frees coming either side of a Conor Fahey ninety metre score from play had the deficit down to three after 42 minutes. The pattern continued with Fahey’s point moving Upperchurch four in front but at the other end Kiladangan won a penalty. Ruairi Gleeson’s effort was saved by T J Butler and Upperchurch re-started their best play with Loughlin Ryn scoring with his high ball slipping over the bar from Darragh Egan’s raised hand.

Despite the numerical advantage, Kiladangan just refused to go away. Ruairi Gleeson was on target once more play, but Pat Shortt moved Upperchurch five clear in the 52nd minute, only for Gleeson to score another free.

At the other end, Aidan Ryan almost poked home a goal but lost his footing when he was about to connect before both teams swapped scores through Pat Shortt and Ruairi Gleeson. As play continued it looked as if Upperchurch had done enough especially when Loughlin Ryan and Sean Ryan increased their sides lead to six points with a minute of normal time remaining.

But not when Kiladangan are involved and with play in added time, a goal by Eoghan Meagher gave them hope before Neil Cahalan scored his second and Kiladangan’s fourth to level matters after 61 minutes.

Extra time was a possibility, but Upperchurch/Drombane attacked once more with Matthew Greene fouled by Shane Seymour with the free hotly contested. However, Paddy Russell was not for changing and Pat Shortt converted for what was the winning point after one more Ruairi Gleeson effort drifted wide seconds before the final whistle. Upperchurch retain their intermediate status while for Kiladangan, it is back to back relegations as they drop to Junior ‘A’ for the first time since 2016.

Player of the Match: Loughlin Ryan (Upperchurch/Drombane).

Upperchurch/Drombane: TJ Butler (7); James Griffen (7), Matt Ryan (7), Padraig Stapleton (7); Joe Bourke (7), Diarmuid Grant (0-2, 8), Oisin Tracy (1-0, 7); Sean Ryan (0-1, 7), Eanna Ryan (0-1, 7); Loughlin Ryan (0-3, 8), Conor Fahey (0-3, 7), Jim O’Dwyer (0-2, 7); Eoin Shortt (0-1, 7), Pat Shortt (1-7, 0-6f, 7), Pakie Bourke (6).

Subs: Matthew Greene (6) for Bourke (35); Conor Ryan (NR) for E Shortt (59).

Kiladangan: Darragh Egan (7); Paddy Gallagher (7), Shane Seymour (8), Jack McGrath (7); Ronan Ducie (6), Jack Loughnane (0-1, 7), Darragh Ryan (6); Darragh Butler (7), Martin Minehan (0-1, 6); Neil Cahalan (2-2, 7), Matthew Cleary (6), Eoin Kelly (0-1, 7); Conor Culhane (1-0, 6), Ruairi Gleeson (0-8, 4f, 1’65) 7), Bill Cleary (6).

Subs: Eoghan Meagher (1-0, 7) for B Cleary (38); Aidan Ryan (6) for Culhane (50); Stephen Mulvihill (NR) for M Cleary (58).

Referee: Paddy Russell (Emly).